Parking to become paid in more areas of Budapest: here’s where to be alert
Residents and commuters in Budapest’s District XIV should prepare for changes from January, as the Zugló municipal council has unanimously decided to expand paid parking in the district during an extraordinary council meeting.
New paid parking zones in Zugló
According to Zugló.hu, the new paid zones will cover the following areas: the Füredi housing estate, bordered by Örs vezér Square, Örs vezér Road, Álmos vezér Road, Fogarasi Road, Vezér Street, Füredi Street, Gvadányi Road, Kerepesi Road, and Ond vezér Road; as well as the area between Erzsébet királyné Road and Csömöri Road (boundaries: Erzsébet királyné Road – Rákospatak Street – Csömöri Road – Fűrész Street – Telepes Street – Lőcsei Road).
High commuter parking causes difficulties for residents
IttLakunk.hu reports that the main reason for the change is the high number of commuters taking advantage of free parking, making it difficult for local residents to find spaces. The new regulations are expected to come into effect in January 2026, following approval by the Budapest General Assembly. Local residents will be able to apply for discounted parking permits.
Paid parking may also appear in Rákospalota
District XIV already has several paid parking zones, and plans indicate that neighbouring District XV could introduce paid parking from 2027 to address long-standing parking chaos and the constant shuffling of cars in the area.
During the extraordinary council meeting, representatives also passed other regulations affecting properties for educational purposes, such as reducing rental deposits to make it easier to lease vacant municipal properties for educational use.
New parking system across Budapest
As we reported earlier this week, a new parking system has been introduced across the capital. The Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) has implemented developments aimed at better managing traffic, freight deliveries, and short-term parking. In the Corvin district, half-hour parking bays and dedicated food delivery parking spots have been created, while Újpest has gained a new loading area and a Kiss & Ride (K+R) stop.
Test parking spots for bicycle-using food delivery riders have also been set up near the Vajdahunyad Street entrance of Corvin Plaza. These spots are exclusively for couriers, with car parking strictly prohibited. The goal is to provide couriers with an organised and safe place to wait for orders.
Searching for a space takes too long
BKK data shows that drivers in Budapest spend an average of six to eight minutes searching for parking, generating thousands of tonnes of unnecessary CO₂ emissions each year. In some inner districts, parking occupancy exceeds 95%, making short-term parking spaces and regulated loading zones a significant help for both residents and delivery operators.